Entrepreneurs know that attending tech meetups, innovation panels and industry conferences are critical for networking and generating new ideas. But many startup CEOs such as Miki Agrawal, co-founder of SheTHINX and author of Do Cool Sh*t, also attend cultural and artistic festivals to boost their business performance.

She's currently gearing up for Burning Man, an annual event that takes place in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. It attracts more than 60,000, including the biggest tech CEOs. Mark Zuckerberg, Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Elon Musk have all attended Burning Man, according to a San Francisco Choniclearticle.

As the event draws near, Agrawal discusses why fests focused on the creative arts -- and not on commercial sponsorships, product sales or advertising -- is the most effective way to meet other innovators, find inspiration and reconnect with your entrepreneurial soul.

Networking events can be either amazing opportunities or a complete waste of your time. For those thinking of attending networking events, here is some advice on getting started, along with other ways you can meet great people.